The Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI), the innovation agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, will open the application period on 14 April for the 2026 call of the NEOTEC Programme, with a total budget of €20.38 million in grants, of which €5 million is ring-fenced exclusively for the Neotec Women line.
This call will finance projects by small companies from any technological field and sector and maintains the higher aid intensity for beneficiaries that hire at least one PhD in order to strengthen their capacity to absorb and generate knowledge. In such cases, the maximum funding rate increases from 70% to 85% of eligible costs, with grant caps of €250,000 and €325,000, respectively.
The grants will be used to finance business projects of small innovative companies (technology-based companies, TBCs) with growth ambitions that require the use of technologies or knowledge developed through research activity, and whose business strategy is based on the development of proprietary technology and the intensive use of scientific and technological knowledge. In this way, the programme contributes to entrepreneurship and accelerates the transfer of knowledge from public research bodies and universities.
In line with previous editions, NEOTEC 2026 continues the initiative launched in 2022 and maintains the possibility of providing access to specialised training delivered by the Enterprise Innovation Institute of the University of Georgia (Atlanta, USA) or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in order to strengthen the capabilities of companies and improve their chances of success in the market. The training is also intended to help Spanish technology-based companies gain knowledge of the US entrepreneurial ecosystem and provide specialised expertise in areas such as sustainability innovation – both environmental and business-related – new business strategies and internationalisation processes, among others.
The 20 best projects applying for access to this training may see the amount of the grant increased by up to €10,000.
Profile of the NEOTEC Programme and the 2026 call
Technology-based SMEs less than three years old, with a minimum share capital of €20,000, that have not distributed profits and are not listed on a stock exchange – except for alternative trading platforms – may apply for the grants.
Applications may be submitted from 14 April to 14 May 2026 at 12:00 pm (mainland Spain time) through the CDTI electronic headquarters: https://sede.cdti.gob.es/
The grants may finance up to 70% of the business plan submitted. Projects must begin on 1 January 2027 and end on 31 December 2027 if they are annual projects, or on 31 December 2028 if they are multiannual. They must also have a minimum budget of €175,000 and a maximum grant of €250,000 per beneficiary.
However, projects that hire PhDs under the terms set out in the call may receive up to 85% financing of their business plan, with a cap of €250,000 and €325,000 per company. In addition, the amount of the grant may be increased by up to €10,000 if access to the specialised training offered by the call is requested.
Furthermore, following the final grant award decision, beneficiaries may request an advance payment of up to 60% of the grant, with a ceiling of €150,000, without the need for collateral or guarantees.
The objective is to finance initiatives whose business model is based on the intensive use of scientific and technological knowledge, thereby contributing to entrepreneurship and the transfer of R&D from public bodies and universities.
More information on the NEOTEC 2026 call is available at:
https://www.cdti.es/ayudas/ayudas-neotec-2026
CDTI InnovaciónThe Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation, CDTI E.P.E., is the innovation agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Its objective is to promote technological innovation in the business sector. CDTI’s mission is to ensure that the Spanish business fabric generates and transforms scientific and technical knowledge into globally competitive, sustainable and inclusive growth.
In 2025, within the framework of its 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, CDTI provided more than €2 billion in support to Spanish companies and start-ups.
Further information:
Web: www.cdti.es
En Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/29815
En X: https://twitter.com/CDTI_innovacion
En Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CDTIoficial
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